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Cowboys Pulse
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Cowboys Halftime Report |
Arlington, TX - The bye week finds the Cowboys at the halfway point of the season with a surprising 7-1 record, 2 game lead in the NFC East and a #2 Power Ranking! While thrilled with where we stand currently, all is definitely not rosy here.
The Good
Tomy Romo - After a slow start the first two games, Romo has been brilliant. Romo is on pace for 4400 Yards and 40 TDs and has only thrown 1 INT in the past 4 games.
Marion Barber - Barber has been the main HB this season and has averaged 4.75 yards while on pace for 1600+ yards and 8 TDs.
Eric Dorsey - The 3rd Round Rookie leads the team with 7 Sacks.
Kam Chancellor - Leads all Safties with 18 DFL (just 2 CTHA)
The Bad
Defense - A lot of pressure has been put on this young group by the high-scoring offense. They are currently ranked 19th in Points Allowed and 28th against the pass. Although they have improved lately in the Takeaway column, a few games ago the team ranked dead last in Turnover Differential (currently -1).
Tyrone O'Neal - O'Neal has been adequate but more was expected of him. Has given up 5 of the team's 12 sacks and has lacked the expected power in the run game. Long-term he should be fine - maybe showing just how hard RT really is for a rookie.
The Ugly
Outlook - CB Terence Newman hasn't played since week 2 and is expected to miss at least 3 more games. Second-year CB Owusu-Ansah was playing well this year before being lost for the season last week with a torn shoulder. With games against the Patriots and Saints the next two weeks, the once-deep CB position is now a huge point of concern. Orlando Scandrick has played well at 3rd/4th CB but now either he or Cletis Gordon will be called upon to start opposite Mike Jenkins, himself thrust into the starting lineup when Newman went down.  |
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Forum Discussion
(by K_Mullendore on 08/26/2010)
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Replies - 1 :: Views - 17 |
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Cowboys Projected Starters & Position Battles |
Offense
QB - Tony Romo - One of only 5 QBs in 2010 to finish with 4000 yards and 30 TDs - oddly enough all 5 were in the NFC
HB - Felix Jones/Marion Barber/Tashard Choice/Greg Buckley(R) - A 3-headed-monster has become a 4-horse-race in 2011. Jones, Barber and Choice all made the most of their opportunities last season and the coaches feel they have a real gem in 5th Round Pick Greg Buckley. Projected Starter: Even
FB - Leonard Weaver - Weaver is one of the best and he was brought in to free up Marion Barber for more action from HB.
WR - Miles Austin - Looking to improve on a very good 2010 season.
WR - Roy Williams/Kevin Ogletree/Caz Dudley(R) - Both Williams and Ogletree played well last season but Williams displayed better hands. Dudley will be a terror once he is comfortable with the system and improves his routes. Projected Starter: Ogletree
LT - Doug Free - Silenced the critics with a very impressive 2010 season.
LG - Jeremy Zuttah - Zuttah was one of the Cowboys' only FA acquisitions. He will move over to Left Guard to replace Kyle Kosier who was not resigned.
C - Andre Gurode - Still one of the best Centers in the game at 33 years of age.
RG - Leonard Davis - See Andre Gurode
RT - Tyrone O'Neal(R) - It takes quite a player to start at Right Tackle as a rookie. The Cowboys' 1st Round Pick is quite a player.
TE Jason Witten - Mister consistent
Defense
LE - Eric Dorsey(R) - Igor is out. The speedy Dorsey is in. Cowboys hoping he can provide a consistent pass rush off the end.
DT - Jay Ratliff - The anchor in the middle of the D-Line.
DT - Jason Hatcher - Had a decent 2010 season but will need to step it up even more in 2011 with rookie Buchanon eager for playing time.
RE - Marcus Spears - Cowboys expecting more return on their investment from Spears. He is well aware that Charles Johnson was not brought in to watch from the bench.
LOLB - Anthony Spencer - Spencer was a force at times last season opposite DWare. Expect a good season from Spencer in 2011 auditioning for a new contract.
MLB - Jason Williams - Cowboys surprised a lot of people, including players, with the release of veteran Bradie James. It appeared to be more for salary cap reasons than performance. Coaches seem content giving unproven Williams every chance to prove he can be the man in the middle. Will probably get a lot of help from Ware and Spencer, but this is obviously one of the team's biggest question marks entering the season.
ROLB - Demarcus Ware - Nuff said
CB - Terrence Newman - At 32-years and a large contract, Newman must continue playing at the top of his game or risk being replaced with one of the young posse that are chomping at the bit.
CB - Michael Jenkins/Akwasi Owusu-Ansah/Orlando Scandrick - Last season Akwasi was replaced mid-season by Jenkins after struggling early on and Jenkins was outstanding. Akwasi has the size and speed but must prove he understands the defense. This battle for the starting job should be the best battle in training camp. Scandrick played very well in limited opportunities last season and insists he can play, but still appears to be the odd man out. Projected Starter: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
SS - Kam Chancellor - A 6th Round Pick last season and the biggest Safety in the league, the confident rookie surprised everybody last season and in a weaker class may have been a DROY candidate. He looks both bigger and faster this season which is bad news for opposing WRs coming across the middle.
FS - Pat Watkins - Coaches were unsure entering last season if Watkins could succeed as the starter at FS. There are no doubters this season. Watkins was 4th among Free Safeties with 22 DFL and 7th in Tackles with 81. At 6'5", Watkins pairs up with Chancellor to give the Cowboys some serious size roaming the secondary. |
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Forum Discussion
(by K_Mullendore on 07/24/2010)
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Replies - 3 :: Views - 47 |
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Cowboys Draft Review - Day 1 |
Pick 1.20 - LT Tyrone O'Neal 6'7" 321lbs Thrilled O'Neal was available at 1.20 as he was the top-rated OL on our board. Exceptional size and talent with no real weaknesses, although slightly better Agility would have been nice.
Pick 2.18 - WR Caz Dudley 6'3" 225lbs Great size and athletic ability but raw and runs poor routes. Given the ability to take his time and develop behind Miles, Williams and Ogletree, Dudley should develop into a major receiving threat in the next couple of seasons.
Pick 2.20 - LT Stafon Martin 6'5" 311lbs Back to OL for pick 2.20 as the departure of Columbo and Kosier, plus the age of Davis and Gurode, makes OL our number one priority. Martin has good athletic ability and skills. Will likely become a starter at Guard once Davis calls it quits.
Pick 3.14 - DE Eric Dorsey 6'3" 272lbs At this point in the draft with the talent level thinning out, we decided to target the defense for the first time and take a chance on Dorsey. He has good size and is very quick/fast, but is very raw and soft (both in strength and toughness). A good skew could very well give him the little bump to make him worth investing in, while a bad skew might be just enough to make him a career backup. |
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Forum Discussion
(by K_Mullendore on 07/18/2010)
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Replies - 4 :: Views - 53 |
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At A Glance
| NFC East |
| RNK |
TEAM |
W-L-T |
PCT |
DIV |
| #3 |
 Cowboys |
9-2-0 |
0.818 |
3-1 |
| #12 |
 Giants |
6-4-0 |
0.600 |
3-1 |
| #25 |
 Eagles |
3-7-0 |
0.300 |
2-3 |
| #32 |
 Redskins |
1-10-0 |
0.091 |
1-4 |
| COWBOYS SCHEDULE |
| WK |
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME/RESULT |
| 1 |
Sun |
at  Vikings #29 |
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| 2 |
Sun |
vs Eagles #25 |
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| 3 |
Sun |
vs  Bills #20 |
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| 4 |
Sun |
at Giants #12 |
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| 5 |
Sun |
at Eagles #25 |
|
| 6 |
Sun |
vs  Dolphins #14 |
|
| 7 |
Sun |
at  Jets #22 |
|
| 8 |
Sun |
vs  Cardinals #9 |
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| 10 |
Sun |
at  Patriots #5 |
|
| 11 |
Sun |
vs  Saints #2 |
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| 12 |
Thu |
vs Redskins #32 |
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| 13 |
Sun |
vs  Rams #1 |
1:00pm |
| 14 |
Sun |
at  Seahawks #19 |
4:15pm |
| 15 |
Sun |
at  49ers #24 |
4:15pm |
| 16 |
Sat |
at Redskins #32 |
1:00pm |
| 17 |
Sun |
vs Giants #12 |
1:00pm |
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#3 Dallas Cowboys
